Vaccinium corymbosum L. plant named ‘RYOKU NH-12’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Vaccinium corymbosum L. plant named ‘RYOKU NH-12’, characterized by having more compact plant size, comparatively early fruit ripening time, comparatively large and uniform fruit size, firmer and lower dehiscent fruits, sweeter fruits, better taste balance of sweetness and acidity, and better taste of fruits, as compared to other Vaccinium corymbosum L. varieties.

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosedherein is: Vaccinium corymbosum L.

The novel variety of the Vaccinium corymbosum L. disclosed herein hasbeen given the variety denomination: ‘RYOKU NH-12’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Plant Breeders' RightsApplication No. 31724, filed Jan. 4, 2017, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid variety ofnorthern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) named ‘RYOKUNH-12’. This novel variety was found by open pollination of ‘Spartan’,‘Duke’ and ‘Denies Blue’ in the tests conducted for the period from 2004to 2008 in Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan. As stated below,‘RYOKU NH-12’ has apparently different characteristics from those of the‘Spartan’ and ‘Duke’, both being widely planted and important varietiesin the Chubu district of Japan.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Blueberry variety ‘RYOKU NH-12’ exhibits outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics when grown under normal horticultural conditions in thearea from Nagano-prefecture to the north of the Kanto in Japan,including:

-   -   (1) more compact plant size;    -   (2) comparatively early fruit ripening time (50% fruit ripening        around late June of each year in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan);    -   (3) comparatively large and uniform fruit size;    -   (4) firmer and lower dehiscent fruits;    -   (5) sweeter fruits with better taste balance of sweetness and        acidity; and    -   (6) better taste of fruits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs (FIGS. 1 to 8) show typical bush,flower, fruit and leaf characteristics of the new Vaccinium corymbosumL. plant, ‘RYOKU NH-12’. Colors shown are as accurate as can bereasonably reproduced by photographic means. In some cases, the colormight differ slightly from the colors of ‘RYOKU NH-12’ recited in thedescription.

FIG. 1 shows a tree body of ‘RYOKU NH-12’ (photographed date: Jul. 9,2014; photographed location: Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan).

FIG. 2 shows a panoramic view of the cultivation area of ‘RYOKU NH-12’(photographed date: Sep. 7, 2012; photographed location: same as FIG.1).

FIG. 3 shows whole flowers of ‘RYOKU NH-12’ (photographed date: May 6,2014; photographed location: same as FIG. 1).

FIG. 4 shows broken-down parts of a flower of ‘RYOKU NH-12’(photographed date: May 6, 2014; photographed location: same as FIG. 1).

FIG. 5 shows fruits of ‘RYOKU NH-12’ (photographed date: Jul. 15, 2014;photographed location: same as FIG. 1).

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of the fruits of ‘RYOKU NH-12’(photographed date: Jul. 15, 2014; photographed location: same as FIG.1).

FIG. 7 shows an upper side of the leaves (10 sheets) of ‘RYOKU NH-12’(photographed date: Aug. 3, 2012; photographed location: same as FIG.1).

FIG. 8 shows a lower side of the leaves (10 sheets) of ‘RYOKU NH-12’(photographed date: Aug. 3, 2012; photographed location: same as FIG.1).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

A. Distinctive Characteristics of ‘RYOKU NY-12’

As described above, ‘RYOKU NH-12’ was obtained by the open pollinationof ‘Spartan’, ‘Duke’ and ‘Denies Blue’. On Apr. 15, 2004, about 1,000seeds obtained from the mixed fruits of ‘Spartan’, ‘Duke’ and ‘DeniesBlue’, all of which were harvested in a field in Matsumoto-City,Nagano-prefecture, Japan, seeded in plant seeding trays, and thentransplanted to pots. The resulting seedlings (about 300) were plantedin cultivation pots on May 1, 2005. Fructification of the plantedseedlings was started from Jun. 20, 2008 (on Year 3), and about 20 plantindividuals were selected based on the characteristics, including largerfruit size, better taste balance of sweetness and acidity, higher yieldper plant, earlier ripening time, large and uniform fruits, etc. For theabout 20 plant individuals selected, test plots (each including about 20cuttings per plant individual) were formed, where these plants wereasexually propagated by cutting means. During the period from Jul. 20,2010 to Dec. 25, 2016 and for 3 generations, the plants were propagatedand examined for their characteristics based on the growth, and yieldand fruits quality in each test plot. For 10 test plots, thecharacteristics of the plants were observed for the period between theflowering time and the ripening time yearly for 4 years, and sinceneither variant nor off-type plant was observed for the period, thecharacterization of ‘RYOKU NH-12’ was finished on Dec. 25, 2016 and thebreeding was completed.

‘RYOKU NH-12’ is a blueberry clone distinguishable from the importantblueberry varieties ‘Spartan’ and ‘Duke’, both of which are widelyplanted in the Chubu district of Japan, due to its characteristicsincluding more compact plant size, comparatively early fruit ripeningtime, comparatively large and uniform fruit size, firmer and lowerdehiscent fruits, sweeter fruits with better taste balance of sweetnessand acidity, and better taste fruits. 20 plants of ‘RYOKU NH-12’ hadbeen propagated by cutting means in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan, and allthe resulting plants were phenotypically indistinguishable from theoriginal plant variety ‘RYOKU NH-12’. In addition, comparing to‘Spartan’ and ‘Duke’, the claimed plant ‘RYOKU NH-12’ has more compactplant size, about 1 week earlier fruit ripening time (on average, aroundJune 25 to July 1 of each year in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan), larger andmore uniform fruit size, and firmer and sweeter fruit when compared toits related variety ‘Spartan’, and has more compact plant size, lowerdehiscent fruits, sweeter fruits, a better balance of sweetness andacidity, and better tasting of fruits when compared to the ‘Duke’variety (see Table 1 below).

The following data defining characteristics of ‘RYOKU NH-12’ werecollected from the asexual propagation carried out in Matsumoto, Nagano,Japan. The plant history was taken on a plot of 10 four-year-old plantsgrowing in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan. ‘RYOKU NH-12’ has not been observedunder all possible environmental conditions, and the measurementsprovided might therefore vary if grown in different environments. Whereaverages are given, the sample size was 10.

B. Phenotypic Description of Vaccinium corymbosum L. (‘RYOKU NH-12’)

Characteristics of ‘RYOKU NH-12’ are further specifically described asfollows:

-   1. Plant:    -   -   Plant vigor.—Medium.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Plant size.—Small.        -   Plant height.—1.3 m on average for 4-year old plant.        -   Plant spread.—0.8 m on average for 4-year old plant.        -   Color of bark of plant.—Dark Red, 187-B (The R.H.S. Colour            Chart).        -   Cold hardiness.—Survived in winter frost (below −10° C.)            with minimum damage.        -   Ease of propagation.—Propagated from each of the dormant            wood cutting and the softwood stem cutting, where the            rooting percentage was greater than 70% and comparable to            the other varieties.-   2. Trunk and branches:    -   -   Suckering tendency.—Medium suckering tendency.        -   Surface texture (of 6-month-old shoots).—Medium smoothness.        -   Surface texture (of 3-year-old and older wood).—Medium            smoothness.        -   Color of new twigs observed in the field.—Orangish yellow            green.        -   Internode length.—16.2 mm on average.-   3. Leaves:    -   -   Length including petiole.—54.0 mm on average.        -   Width of leaf at widest point.—33.0 mm on average.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Upper surface of leaves: Dark Yellowish Green, 139-A.            Lower surface of leaves: Strong Yellow Green, 143-A (The            R.H.S. Colour Chart).        -   Pubescence.—Upper Surface of leaves: Absent. Lower Surface            of leaves: Absent. Margin: Absent.        -   Timing of vegetative bud burst.—Medium.-   4. Flowers:    -   -   Shape.—Campanulate.        -   Color of opened flower.—Pale Yellow Green, 157-C (The R.H.S.            Colour Chart).        -   Flowering period.—Mean date of 50% opening of flowers in            Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan is May 1 (2 days            earlier than ‘Spartan’ variety).        -   Corolla.—Diameter: 7.4 mm on average. Length (from pedicel            attachment point to corolla tip excluding the pedicel): 10.8            mm on average. Color: light green white. Anthocyanin            coloration in corolla tube — Absent or very weak.-   5. Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pollen.—Color: Yellow.-   6. Fruit:    -   -   Mean date of 50% harvest in Matsumoto-City,            Nagano-prefecture.—July 1 on average.        -   Diameter of calyx aperture on mature berry.—5.9 mm on            average.        -   Size and shape of calyx lobe on mature berry.—Medium in            size, outcurving, and having deep calyx basin.        -   Detachment force for ripe berries (easy, medium,            hard).—Easy.        -   Fruit cluster density (sparse, medium, dense).—Medium.        -   Fruiting type.—On one-year old shoots only.-   7. Berry:    -   -   Cluster (tight, medium, loose).—Medium.        -   Weight (on well-pruned plants).—3.79 g on average.        -   Height.—14.9 mm on average.        -   Width.—20.4 mm on average.        -   Shape.—Oblate.        -   Skin of fruit, with bloom.—Light Purplish Blue, 98-D (The            R.H.S. Colour Chart).        -   Intensity of fruit bloom.—Medium.        -   Skin of fruit, without bloom.—Greyish Purplish Blue, 103-A            (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).        -   Immature berry color, with bloom.—Medium green.        -   Immature berry color, without bloom.—Yellow green.        -   Flesh color.—Light Yellow Green, 150-D (The R.H.S. Colour            Chart).        -   Peel color.—Medium blue.        -   Color of seeds.—Moderate Orange, N167-C (The R.H.S. Colour            Chart).        -   Pedicel scar.—Medium. 2.92 mm on average.        -   Firmness.—Medium.        -   Intensity of fruit sweetness.—High, Bx 14.5.        -   Intensity of fruit acidity.—High, pH 2.59.        -   Texture.—Somewhat soft pulp, very juicy, medium seeds.-   8. Use: ‘RYOKU NH-12’ produce northern highbush blueberries suitable    for fruit-picking farms, fresh fruit markets and processed fruit    market, etc.-   9. Resistance to disease, insects, and mites: ‘RYOKU NH-12’ grew    vigorously and showed excellent bush survival in the field. It    appears to be tolerant to stem blight (Botryosphaeria spp.) and root    rot (Phytophthora cinnamoni), with very few young plants dying soon    after planting. The response of ‘RYOKU NH-12’ to the various fungal    species that cause summer leaf spots is typical of other northern    highbush varieties, and fungicide applications may be needed after    harvest in order to reduce foliar diseases and to retain leaves    until autumn and make maximum flower bud set. Similarly,    susceptibility to typical blueberry insect and mite pathogens, such    as spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), blueberry gall    midge (Dasineura oxycoccana) and blueberry bud mite (Acalitus    vaccini), is similar to other northern highbush cultivars.

TABLE 1 (Comparison of characteristics among varieties) Charact. UPOVNo. No Code Characteristics Definition 1 1 QN Plant: vigor Strength ofgrowth (*) (+) level of plant 2 QN Plant: size Size of plant crown 3 2QN Plant: Whole shape of (*) G growth habit plant without pruning duringdormant period 4 3 PQ One-year-old Color of middle shoot: color part ofshoot extended before dormant period 5 QN One-year-old Length of middleshoot: length part of shoot extended before dormant period 6 4 QNOne-year-old Length of shoot: length internode of shoot of internodeextended before (upper half) dormant period (upper half) 7 5 QN Leaf:length Length of leaf (*) sufficiently expanded 8 6 QN Leaf: widthMaxiumum width of mature leaf 9 7 QN Leaf: ratio Ratio of leaf lengthlegnth/width to maximum width (leaf length/ leaf width) 10 8 PQ Leaf:shape Shape of mature (*) leaf 11 QN Leaf: shape Shape of tip of (+) oftip mature leaf 12 9 QL Leaf: color Color of surface of upper of matureleaf side 13 10 QN Only varieties Intensity of green (*) with green leafcolor on surface color : Leaf: of mature leaf intensity of green coloron upper side 14 11 QL Leaf: margin Type of margin (*) of mature leaf 1512 QN Flower bud: Intensity of anthocyanin anthocyanin colorationcoloration of flower bud occuring to one year old shoot 16 13 QNInflorescence: Length of length inflorescence at (excluding floweringtime peduncle) (excluding peduncle) 17 14 PQ Flower: Shape of corolla atshape of full bloom corolla 18 PQ Flower: color Color of corolla at ofcorolla full bloom 19 15 QN Flower: size of Size of corolla (*) corollatube tube at full bloom 20 16 QN Flower: Intensity of (*) anthocyaninanthocyanin coloration of coloration on corolla tube surface of corollatube 21 17 QL Flower: Presence or absence ridges on of ridges on corollacorolla tube tube 22 18 QN Fruit cluster: Density of fruit per densityfruit cluster 23 19 QN Unripe fruit: Intensity of green (*) intensity ofcolor of fruit before green color ripening 24 20 QN Fruit: size Size offruit at (*) ripening 25 21 PQ Fruit: shape in Shape in (*) (+)longitudinal longitudinal section section of fruit at ripening 26 QNFruit: size of Size of stem scar (+) scar of mature fruit 27 PQ Fruit:shape of Shape of calyx (+) calyx cavity cavity of mature fruit 28 22 QNFruit: attitude Attitude of sepals of sepals relative to mature fruit 2923 QN Fruit: type of Direction of curving sepals of sepals 30 24 QNFruit: diameter Diameter of calyx of calyx basin basin of mature fruit31 25 QN Fruit: depth of Depth of calyx basin calyx basin of maturefruit 32 26 QN Fruit: Intensity of bloom (*) intensity on surface of ofbloom mature fruit 33 27 PQ Fruit: color of Color of skin of (*) G skin(after re- mature fruit after moval of bloom) removal of bloom 34 28 QNFruit: firmness Firmness of mature (*) fruit 35 PQ Fruit: color of Colorof flesh of flesh mature fruit 36 29 QN Fruit: sweetness Sweetness ofmature (*) (+) fruit 37 30 QN Fruit: acidity Acidity of mature (*) (+)fruit 38 31 QL Plant: fruiting Shoots to which (*) G type fruit adnate39 QN Fruit: tendency Tendency of of cracking cracking during harvestseason 40 32 QN Time of Time of beginning to (*) (+) vegetative budburst first vegetative burst bud of each individual plant 41 33 QN Timeof begin- Time of 10% (*) (+) ning of flower- flowering occuring G ingon one- to one year old year-old shoot shoot Standard Charact. VarietyNo. Method Class State (Ex. Var.) 1 Obser- 3 weak Bluetta, vation (a)Meader VG 5 medium Collins, Weymouth 7 strong Berkeley, Homebell,Woodard 2 Obser- 3 small Avonblue, vation (a) Bluetta, Flordablue VG 5medium Bluecrop, Earliblue 7 large Dixi, Homebell, Tifblue 3 Obser- 1upright Becyblue, vation (a) Bluechip, VG June, Spartan 2 semi-uprightBluecrop, Lateblue 3 spreading Northland, Weymouth 4 Obser- 1 greenvation (a) 2 greenish red VG 3 greyish red Briteblue, Homebell 4 reddishyellow Berkeley, Dixi 5 reddish brown Blueray, Darrow, Weymouth 6 darkred 5 Measure- 3 short 5 ment mm 5 medium (a) 7 long VG 6 Obser- 3 shortAvonblue, vation (a) Weymouth VG 5 medium 7 long Jersey 7 Measure- 3short ment mm 5 medium (b) 7 long MS/VG 8 Measure- 3 narrow ment mm 5medium (b) 7 broad MS/VG 9 Measure- 3 small ment (b) 5 medium MS/VG 7large 10 Obser- 1 lanceolate vation (b) 2 ovate Northland VG 3 ellipticBerkeley, Collins, Coville 4 oblong 11 Obser- 3 acute Weymouth, vation(b) Woodard VG 5 medium Earliblue, Tifblue 7 obtuse Berkeley, Climax,Southland 12 Obser- 1 yellow vation (b) 2 green Bluechip, VG Bluecrop,Blueray 13 Obser- 3 light vation (b) 5 medium VG 7 dark 14 Obser- 1entire vation (b) 2 serrate VG 15 Obser- 3 weak vation (a) 5 medium VG 7strong 16 Measure- 3 short ment mm 5 medium (c) 7 long MS/VG 17 Obser- 1urceolate Bluecrop, vation (c) Jersey VG 2 campanulate Northblue,Northsky 3 cylindrical 18 Obser- 1 white Aliceblue, vation (c) Bluetta,VG Briteblue 2 creamy white Avonblue, Berkeley, Bluecrop 3 greenishwhite Blueray, Collins, Coville 4 light pink Bluebell, Delite, Dixi,Tifblue 19 Obser- 3 small vation (c) 5 medium VG 7 large 20 Obser- 1absent or very vation (c) weak VG 3 weak 5 medium 7 strong 21 Obser- 1absent Herbert vation (c) 9 present Aliceblue VG Berkeley, Dixi 22Obser- 3 sparse Homebell, vation (d) Jersey, VG Woodard 5 mediumBluechip, Bluecrop, Bluetta 7 dense Darrow, Herbert, Patriot 23 Obser- 3light vation 5 medium VG 7 dark 24 Obser- 3 small Homebell, vation (d)June, VG Northblue 5 medium Collins, Earliblue 7 large Berkeley,Bluecrop, Spartan 25 Obser- 1 elliptic vation (d) 2 round Berkeley, VGJersey, Sharpblue 3 oblate Earliblue, Harrison, Woodard 26 Obser- 3small vation (d) 5 medium VG 7 large 27 Obser- 1 star vation (d) 2circular VG 28 Obser- 1 erect vation (d) 2 erect to VG semi-erect 3semi-erect 4 level 29 Obser- 1 incurving vation (d) 2 straight VG 3reflexed 30 Obser- 3 small Avonblue, vation (d) Bluechip, VG Sharpblue 5medium Blueray, Woodard 7 large Coville, Darrow, Homebell 31 Obser- 3shallow Bluecrop, vation (d) Rancocas, VG Tifblue 5 medium Earliblue,Jersey 7 deep Blueray, Collins, Dixi 32 Obser- 1 very weak vation (d) 3weak Dixi, VG Herbert, Sharpblue 5 medium Collins, Coville 7 strongAvonblue, Bluecrop, Tifblue 33 Obser- 1 light blue Berkeley, vation (d)Bluechip, VG Tifblue 2 medium blue Blueray, Jersey, June 3 dark blueDixi, Homebell 4 blue red 34 Obser- 3 soft Herbert, vation (d) Homebell,Spartan VG/VS 5 medium Collins, Dixi 7 firm Coville, Southland 9 veryfirm 35 Obser- 1 white Berkeley, vation (d) Bluecrop, Blueray VG 2 creamEarliblue 3 light green Bluechip, Lateblue, Sharpblue 4 light purpleAliceblue, Delite, Homebell 36 Obser- 3 low Avonblue, Bluechip vation(d) VG 5 medium Berkeley, Bluetta, Spartan 7 high Aliceblue, Bluecrop,Blueray 37 Obser- 3 low Earliblue, vation (d) Homebell VG 5 mediumBlueray, Herbert 7 high Collins, Elliott, Lateblue 38 Obser- 1 onone-year-old vation (c) shoots only VG 2 on one-year-old and currentseason's shoots 39 Obser- 3 less Earliblue, vation (d) Herbert, SpartanVG 5 medium Avonblue, Berkeley, Bluechip 7 much Briteblue, Climax,Darrow 40 Measure- 3 early Avonblue, ment Beckyblue MG Sharpblue 5medium Darrow, Weymouth 7 late Elliot, Lateblue 41 Measure- 1 very earlyment 3 early MG 5 medium Bluecrop, Collins, Woodard 7 late Dixi,Herbert, Lateblue 9 very late The present variety Charact. RYOKU ControlVarieties No. NH-12 Spartan Duke 1 5 6 7 2 3 5 7 3 2 1 2 4 5 4 4 5 7 7(164 mm) (222 mm) (245 mm) 6 4 5 5 (16.2 mm) (17.0 mm) (18.0 mm) 7 3 5 5(54.0 mm) (76.0 mm) (71.0 mm) 8 5 5 5 (33.0 mm) (37.0 mm) (36.0 mm) 9 45 5 (1.64) (2.05) (1.97) 10 2 3 3 11 12 2 2 2 13 5 7 7 14 1 1 1 15 5 5 516 7 5 5 (35.7 mm) (25.2 mm) (26.4 mm) 17 2 1-2 2 18 2 2-3 2-3 19 5 5 620 1 1 3 21 9 9 9 22 5 5 5 23 5 3 5 24 7 7 7 (3.79 g) (4.56 g) (3.96 g)25 3 3 3 26 5 5 5 (2.92 mm) (2.30 mm) (1.90 mm) 27 2 2 2 28 2 1 1 29 3 13 30 5 5 5 (5.86 mm) (5.80 mm) (5.90 mm) 31 7 7 5 (2.72 mm) (2.20 mm)(1.50 mm) 32 5 5 5 33 2 2 2 34 5 3 5 35 1 2-3 1-2 36 7 5 5 (Bx 14.5) (Bx11.9) (Bx11.1) 37 7 5 3 (pH 2.59) (pH 3.12) (pH 3.87) 38 1 1 1 39 3 3 540 5 7 5 Apr. 6, Apr. 8, 2016 Apr. 5, 2016 2016 41 3 3 3 Apr. 25, Apr.24, 2016 Apr. 24, 2016 2016

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Vacciniumcorymbosum L. plant named ‘RYOKU NH-12’, as described and illustratedherein.